Save the Rhino Day – May 1st
Save the Rhino Day, celebrated globally on May 1, highlights ways to help this fantastic ecosystem engineer. There has been a sharp increase in poaching activity and illegal trade of rhino horns. Today, many subspecies of rhinos have been declared extinct, and the entire rhino population is listed as “endangered”. Students could explore this incredible creature by making a project that ties in with National Endangered Species Day – May 17th 2024 (3rd Friday in May). Rhinos feature in many African and Asian legends where rhinos would appear every time a fire was lit in the forest and they would stamp out the flames. Our story The Rhino in Me: A Story of Friendship, Protection and Milk Lollies may spark questions about important topics like rhino conservation.
National Jumping Frog Day – May 13th
Did you know the South African sharp-nosed frog can leap over 95 times its body length? That feat deserves celebration!
Celebrate frogs with a day filled with fun and jumps. This day originates from Mark Twain’s first published story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. This story captured the imagination of many people with its frog-jumping contest!
Frogs are amazing jumpers and play an important role in our ecosystems. However, frog species are disappearing worldwide, making them perfect for an endangered animal project.
World Bee Day – May 20th
World Bee Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators. Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds, are vital for pollinating the world’s wild flowering plant species and food crops. Bees also contribute to conserving biodiversity and are fascinating social animals.
National Endangered Species Day – May 17th 2024 (3rd Friday)
Raise awareness of the struggles of endangered species around the world. Also, celebrate conservation efforts and animals that have recovered, like the giant panda, American alligators and the famous and stunning bird – the bald eagle.
World Otter Day* (last Wednesday) May 26th
The day helps raise awareness of the dangers faced by these wonderful creatures and educates people on how to protect their natural environments.
Earth Day is every day!
Spark Creativity and Innovation with Futuristic Desert Animals and Plants Design Activities!
You’ll find the resources here, here or here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.